Plants

  1. Paleontology

    A rare 3-D tree fossil may be the earliest glimpse at a forest understory

    The 350-million-year-old tree, which was wider than it was tall thanks to a mop-top crown of 3-meter-long leaves, would look at home in a Dr. Seuss book.

    By
  2. Ecosystems

    How an invasive ant changed a lion’s dinner menu

    An invasive ant is killing off ants that defend trees from elephants. With less cover, it’s harder for lions to hunt zebras, so they hunt buffalo instead.

    By
  3. Plants

    This first-of-its-kind palm plant flowers and fruits entirely underground

    Though rare, plants across 33 families are known for subterranean flowering or fruiting. This is the first example in a palm.

    By
  4. Chemistry

    ‘Most Delicious Poison’ explores how toxins rule our world

    In his debut book, Noah Whiteman tours through chemistry, evolution and world history to understand toxins and how we’ve come to use them.

    By
  5. Plants

    On some Australian islands, sea level rise may be helping mangroves thrive

    Rising seas usually spell trouble for mangroves. But the first survey of the Howick Islands in 50 years finds that mangroves there have expanded a lot.

    By
  6. Plants

    Salty sweat helps one desert plant stay hydrated

    The Athel tamarisk excretes excess salt through its leaves. The buildup of salt crystals pulls water directly from the air, a study reports.

    By
  7. Plants

    Berkley Walker wants to revamp photosynthesis for a changing climate

    Finding ways to make plants work better could help feed a growing population, especially as the planet warms.

    By
  8. Genetics

    These 8 GMOs tell a brief history of genetic modification

    Since the first genetically modified organism 50 years ago, GMOs have brought us disease-resistant crops, new drugs and more.

    By
  9. Plants

    The first citrus fruits may have come from southern China

    An in-depth look at the orange family tree shows the oldest Citrus ancestors arrived in Asia on the Indian tectonic plate over 25 million years ago.

    By
  10. Plants

    The fastest-evolving moss in the world may not adapt to climate change

    The genus Takakia has the largest number of fast-evolving genes of any moss, a study finds. But it’s losing ground in the warming Himalayas.

    By
  11. Life

    Flowers pollinated by honeybees make lower-quality seeds

    Honeybees are one of the most common pollinators. But their flower-visiting habits make it harder for some plants to produce good seeds.

    By
  12. Ecosystems

    Marjorie Weber explores plant-protecting ants and other wonders of evolution

    Cooperation across the tree of life is an understudied driver of evolution and biodiversity, Marjorie Weber says.

    By